Assigwob to samuel seideweeld



G. F. HODGSON.

Patented June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. F. HODGSON.

GATE.

N FILED APR. 1B. 1913.

APPL [CAT Patented June 17, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r nne GEORGE F. I-IODGSON, OF THORNTON, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOB TO SAMUEL SEIDENFELD AND FANNIE SEIDENFELD, BOTH OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed April 18, 1918. Serial No. 229,354.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. HODGSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thornton, in the county of 'Whitman and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following'is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in gates, of the mechanical, horizontal translation type, in which a single gate, or a pair of gates, are caused to move laterally, with a sliding or rolling movement, by an approaching vehicle as the weight of the vehicle depresses a platform in the roadway to actuate mechanism for pulling the gate to one side of the road, and the gate is returned to normal closed position by a counterweight.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention is illustrated, constructed and arranged according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a view, showing the gate, or

gates in elevation, and the operating connections therefor.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view showing one of the gates in open position.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the pair of gates used in a building, such as a garage.

Fig. 5 illustrates the manually operated device for opening the gates.

In the preferred form of the invention as illustrated in the drawings the gates are shown as closing the roadway, a pair of posts or uprights 1 and 1 being connected by the cross beam 9. which extends across the roadway from post to post, and the two gates 3, 3, shown in closed position Fig. 1, are adapted to be translated, horizontally, to open as will be described. At the right and left sides of the, roadway and gates 3, 3, are a pair of gates 4c, 4, for foot travelers, that are hinged and operable in usual way.

The two gates 8, 3, are suspended above the ground in the guide rail 5, preferably of tubular construction and of metal, and the hangers 6 attached to the tops or upper edges of the gates, have the usual anti-friction rollers or anti-friction slide blocks in the guide rail so that the suspended gates may be moved with facility as they slide in the guide rails. Each gate is provided with a counterweight 7 of proper weight to balance the gate, and a cable 8 supports each weight and is passed over the supporting sheave 9011 the respective posts.

Below the gates a pit 10 is provided in which the gate operating mechanism is lo cated, and each of the gates is equipped with an operating mechanism including a depressible, hinged, lever arm 11 whose hinge joint 12 is supported 011 the beam 13 suitably fixed in the pit at the longitudinal center of the roadway, and each of these lever arms is operated by the weight of the load of the approaching vehicle, from either direction, through the instrumentality of one of the depressible platforms 14: or 14. The platforms are hinged at 15 15 at the end walls of the pit'to sills S, S, and are normally supported, flush with the roadway, on the depressible, transversely extending central support 16, upon which the free ends of the hinged platforms rest. The two arms 11 lie beneath the central support 16 and the central support is coupled with each arm by a link as 17 pivotally connected at its ends to the support and arm, and it will be apparent that when the vehicle rides upon the platform 14 or 14, depending upon the direction of travel, the levers will be depressed and caused to swing on their hinges 12.

Each lever arm is provided with an opcrating cable 18, attached at 19 to a fixed bar 20 in the pit, and each cable passes around a sheave 21 and 21 journaled at approximately the center and free end of the arm, respectively, and thence the cable passes over the guide sheave 22, one on each post, and is attached at 23 to the outer edge of the gate. From this construction it will be apparent that the lever arms pull on the cables as the lever arms are swung on their hinges, and the pull on the cables results in drawing the gates to the right and left in Fig. 1 to open position. As the gates are opened, the counterweights of course are lifted, and after the load has passed over the platforms, the weights return the gates to closed posi tion as will be understood.

In addition to the mechanical devices for opening the gates, a manually operated device may also be employed which consists of the hand lever 24, pivoted at 25 on the bracket 26, and through the connections including the link 27, crank 28, and the arm 29 in the bracket 30, see Fi 5, the platforms may be depressed, and then the continued action will be the same as when a vehicle rides upon the platform as described.

From the above description taken in connection with the drawings it is evident that the gates may be opened by an approaching vehicle, such as an automobile, as it rides down the platform at that side of the gate, while in the case of a buggy, or other horse drawn vehicle, the driver may use the hand lever 24 to open the gate. In either event, the gates are operated with facility and smoothness, and are returned, after passage of the vehicle, by the descending counterweights 7, 7, as well understood.

Claims:

1. The combination in a gate operating device, including the supporting posts and guide rail, of a gate suspended on therail, a depressible platform, a transversely arranged depressible support under the platform, a lever arm fulcrumed under the platform and a link connecting the lever arm with the depressible support, a fixed beam below the platform, a cable attached at one end to the beam and at its other end attached to the gate, guide pulleys on the lever, and said cable passed around the pulleys whereby a pull is exerted on the cable as the lever arm is depressed.

9. The combination with the posts cross beam and guide rail, of a pair of horizontally movable gates suspended in the rails and provided with counter-weights, a pair of depressible platforms and a common cen- 4 tral, transversely arranged depressible support for the platforms, a pair of hinged lever arms and a connecting link pivotally connecting each arm with the depressible support, a pull cable attached to each gate 4 and having its other end attached to'a fixed beam under the gate, and each lever arm connected with a cable whereby a pull is exerted on the cable as the lever arm is depressed. 5

The combination in a gate operating device, including the supporting posts and guide rail, of a gate suspended on the rail, a depressible platform, a manually operated lever, a crank and crank arm and a link con- 5 necting the manually operated lever and crank, and said crank arm having operative connection with the depressible platform, a transversely arranged depressible support under the platform, a lever arm fulcrumed under the platform and a link connecting the lever arm with the depressible support, a fixed beam below the platform, acable attached at one end to the beam and at the other end attached to the gate, guide pulleys on the lever, and said cable passed around the pulleys whereby a pull is exerted on the cable as the lever arm is depressed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE F. HODGSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. I 

